Folding fan



Feb. 3, 1948*. R F. H. KLIE 2,435,446

FOLDING FAN Filed Feb. 1, 194's 1 'L.E 4 F l. E F J' IE E INVENTOR. FRANK H. Kl. 15, 0555/1550. BYL/LL/AN anus, EXECUTE/X Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V 2,435,446 FOLDING FAN Frank H. Klie, deceased, late of Paris, 111., by Lillian E. Klie, executrix, Paris, Ill.

Application February 1, 1945, Serial No. 575,623

. 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to sectional fans of the folding type and is directed to certain improvements in the construction of such a fan as is disclosed in this inventor's prior Patent No. 1,655,229, issued January 3, 1928, while retaining the advantages and novelty of construction therein described and claimed. The principal objects of the invention are, to embody in the fan structure simple and efficient means for interlocking the several sections or vanes of the fan when expanded and to include the locking means in certain of the sections of the fan without producing humps or protuberances such as would interfere with stacking of the closed fans for shipment in bulk or interfere with closing the fan,

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosd, besides retaining the plane surfaces of the sections as above stated, affords means for effecting a firm lock or connection between the fan sections when expanded, whereby holding them against relative movement either latrally or transversely and therefore permitting use of lighter stock in the manufacture of the fan than could be used with the disclosure of the prior patent above referred to. As fans of the class to which the invention belongs are ordinarily used to display advertising and are often given away, it is of paramount importance that the fan be light in weight and easy to stack for shipment in compact bundles, while of durable and attractive construction.

All the objects and advantages above mentioned are included in the construction hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing where,

Figure 1 is a face view of the complete fan fully extended;

Figure 2 is a view of the extended fan with its central cover portion omitted to show structure concealed thereby;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fan when closed; and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are face views of the respective vanes or sections of a three-vane fan.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a fan structure consisting of three sections of substantially identical outline is illustrated, these sections consisting of a middle section 10, and lateral sections H and I2. The lower ends of the sections, which are superposed in the assembled fan, are preferably rounded as illustrated to provide a convenient hand hold, and the upper or body portion of each section is enlarged or flared to provide the required size of fan and overlap of sections in the expanded fan, as seen in Figure 2- 2 A cover piece I3 (Figures 1 and 3), conforming in outline to the lower ends of the sections, is preferably provided on one, or both, faces of the fan to reinforce the holding portion and provide better anchorage for the pivot post or rivet l4 and the limiting rivet or stop IS. The limiting rivet 15 extends through the opposite arcuate slots 16, Ha provided in the lateral sections of the fan under the cover piece l3. These slots are concentric with pivot l4 and designed to limit the movements of the lateral sections with respect to the middle section as the drawing clearly shows. Thumb pieces I 6a are preferably formed on each lateral section to facilitate opening of the fan.

The foregoing describes substantially the same structure as disclosed in inventors prior Patent No. 1,655,229, referred to, which was without any provision for locking the fan in expanded position, nor any means for preventing bending of the upper portions of the sections away from each other, except the rigidity of the sections themselves. This latter deficiency necessitated use of rather heavy paper board, the material usually employed, adding materially to the shipping weight of the fans. To make the use of lighter stock possible and at the same time provide a substantially rigid fan structure when expanded, opposite arcuate tongues or tabs [1, l8 are cut from the material of the lateral sections and so located as to bring the bases of the tabs almost in line with the side edges of the central section when the sections are spread to fully expanded positions. When so expanded the tongues can be pressed back from the faces of the respective sections past the lateral edges of the central section and made to overlap Or engage the rear face thereof, thus leaving the half-round openings I9, 20, in the front face of the fan, as seen in Figure 1, exposing the opposite edges of the central section ID. This simple expedient serves to hold the central section firmly against the inner portions of the lateral sections and likewise locks the sections against accidental closing movements but permits quick and easy release by simply restoring the tongues 0r tabs to original position. This is easily accomplished by forceably pressing the central section back from the lateral sections sufficiently to release the tabs.

The novel and improved structure above specifically described is defined in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a fan comprising a plurality of overlapped sections composed of flexible material, the combination with certain of said sections of interlocking means consisting of tongues cut in the material of certain of said sections at points in the outer portions and within the edges thereof and positioned to lie adjacent an edge of an adjacent section when the fan has been expanded,

said tongues adapted to be bent away from the 1 surrounding material and into engagement with such edges.

2. A fan comprising a middle section and two lateral sections which have limited pivotal move- 1 ment on the central section, and locking tongues cut in the material of the outer portions of the a lateral sections and spaced inwardly of the edges thereof at points bringing the bases of the tongues in alignment with the respective longitudinal edges of the central section when thesections are expanded, said tongues adapted to be bent away from the surrounding material of the lateral sec- REFERENCES CITED The following references .arerof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 835,761 Kendrick Nov. 13, 1906 1,863,997 Riva June 21, 1932' j FOREIGN PATENTS Number V Country Date 16,927 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1898 379,885 France 1907 of Frank H. Klie, I 

